Special counsel Robert Mueller has impaneled a grand jury in Washington to investigate allegations of Russian interference in the 2016 election, The Wall Street Journal said on Thursday, citing two unnamed people familiar with the matter.

The grand jury began its work in recent weeks and is a sign that Mueller's inquiry into Russia's efforts to influence the election and whether it colluded with US President Donald Trump's campaign is ramping up, the Journal said.

Mueller's use of a grand jury could give him expansive tools to pursue evidence, including issuing subpoenas and compelling witnesses to testify.

Ty Cobb, special counsel to the president, said in a statement issued by the White House that he wasn't aware that Mueller had started using a new grand jury.

"Grand jury matters are typically secret," Cobb said. "The White House favors anything that accelerates the conclusion of his work fairly. ... The White House is committed to fully cooperating with Mueller."

John Dowd, another lawyer for Trump, said in a statement to The Associated Press: "With respect to the news of the federal grand jury, I have no reason to believe that the president is under investigation." He did not elaborate.

Reuters, citing unnamed sources, reported on Thursday that Mueller has issued a grand jury subpoena for documents and testimony from people related to a June 2016 meeting between Donald Trump Jr, Russian lawyers and others at Trump Tower in New York City.

Russia has loomed large over the first six months of the Trump presidency. US intelligence agencies have concluded that Russia worked to tilt the presidential election in Trump's favor.

Mueller, who was appointed special counsel in May, is leading the probe, which also examines potential collusion by the Trump campaign with Russia.

Moscow denies any meddling, and Trump denies any collusion by his campaign, while regularly denouncing the investigations as political "witch hunts".

A grand jury is a group of ordinary citizens who, working behind closed doors, considers evidence of potential criminal wrongdoing that a prosecutor is investigating and decides whether charges should be brought.

Reuters - China Daily

(China Daily USA 08/04/2017 page1)